Immunohistochemical characteristics of the constituents of senile plaques and amyloid angiopathy in aged cynomolgus monkeys

Abstract: In this study, we immunohistochemically examined the several constituents of senile plaques (SPs) and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in aged cynomolgus monkeys. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) deposited in all mature plaques and CAA, and in half of the diffuse plaques. Alpha-1-antichymotripsin (αACT) deposited in half of the mature plaques and in one third of the CAA. Amyloid precursor protein (APP), ubiquitin (Ub), and microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP-2) accumulated in the swollen neurites of mature plaques. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was detected in the astrocytes and their processes surrounding the mature plaques. Tau was detected in neither the SPs nor CAA. Therefore, mature plaques involved extracellular Aβ, apoE, and αACT, and also astrocytes and swollen neurites. However, diffuse plaques involved only extracellular Aβ and apoE. Since these features, except for tau, were consistent with those in humans, this animal model will be useful for studying the pathogenesis of cerebral amyloid deposition.     

Plasmid formation and its relation to the formation of spontaneously developing pocks in Streptomyces azureus ATCC 14921

Streptomyces azureus ATCC 14921 harboured a plasmid pSA1 together with its chromosomal integrated sequence (pSA1_int). The att P site on the plasmid was located at ca 170 bp Bam HI- Sph I fragment by site-specific integration. The free form was generated from the integrated sequence during the development of its host mycelia in the solid culture, but not in the liquid culture. The free form seemed to elicit the formation of spontaneously developing pocks on its host mycelia in the solid culture.     

Nucleotide Sequence Surrounding the Locus Marker D21S246 on Human Chromosome 21

Most ofthe human Not I linking clones identified to date areconsidered to be derived from CpG islands because ofthe recognitionsequence of this enzyme, and CpG islands have been reportedto be located around the 5' regions of genes. As a pilot study,we determined the complete nucleotide sequence (41,924 bp) ofa human cosmid clone (LL21NC02Q7A10) containing the marker D21S246originating from a Not I linking clone. As a result of sequenceanalysis, we successfully mapped and revealed the genomic genestructure for KIAA0002 previously reported as a cDNA clone.This gene consists of 15 exons and was shown to exist at theD21S246 locus on human chromosome 21q21.3–q22.1. Theseresults demonstrated that genomic marker-anchored DNA sequencingis a useful approach for the human genome project.     

Identification of a putative RNA helicase (HRH1), a human homolog of yeast Prp22.

In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a number of PRP genes known to be involved in pre-mRNA processing have been genetically identified and cloned. Three PRP genes (PRP2, PRP16, and PRP22) were shown to encode putative RNA helicases of the family of proteins with DEAH boxes. However, any such splicing factor containing the helicase motifs in vertebrates has not been identified. To identify human homologs of this family, we designed PCR primers corresponding to the highly conserved region of the DEAH box protein family and successfully amplified five cDNA fragments, using HeLa poly(A)+ RNA as a substrate. One fragment, designated HRH1 (human RNA helicase 1), is highly homologous to Prp22, which was previously shown to be involved in the release of spliced mRNAs from the spliceosomes. Expression of HRH1 in a S. cerevisiae prp22 mutant can partially rescue its temperature-sensitive phenotype. These results strongly suggest that HRH1 is a functional human homolog of the yeast Prp22 protein. Interestingly, HRH1 but not Prp22 contains an arginine- and serine-rich domain (RS domain) which is characteristic of some splicing factors, such as members of the SR protein family. We could show that HRH1 can interact in vitro and in the yeast two-hybrid system with members of the SR protein family through its RS domain. We speculate that HRH1 might be targeted to the spliceosome through this interaction.     

Migration Behavior of Granule Cell Neurons in Cerebellar Cultures. II. An Electron Microscopic Study

We examined the fine structure of migrating granule cell neurons in cerebellar microexplant cultures. Radially migrating bipolar cells extended microspikes or small filopodia from their soma and processes and frequently made contact with neighboring cells. These microspikes contained microfilaments but no microtubules. At the later phase of the migration, in which they had symmetrical bipolar long processes, filopodia extending from perikarial region of cells contained microtubules, suggesting that they are precursors of the future thick perpendicular processes. When cell bodies changed orientation from radial to perpendicular, microtubules that were nucleated from perinuclear centrioles frequently extended into both thick radial and perpendicular processes from the perikarial region. Bundles of 10nm intermediate filaments also appeared in these processes. During migration by the perpendicular contact guidance, many filopodia extending from both the thick leading processes and thin trailing processes made close contacts with the radial parallel neurite. These findings suggest that; 1) The direct contact of the filopodia from both the growth cones and their processes of the granule cells to the neurite bundle plays roles in both the parallel and perpendicular contact guidances. 2) The spacial and temporal changes of cytoskeletons and the association of microtubules with perinuclear centrioles are important for the formation of perpendicular processes and initiation of the perpendicular contact guidance.     

Anti-bacterial antibodies in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed oligoclonal B-cell lines established from normal persons and autoimmune disease patients

We have established 950 and 430 oligoclonal B-lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) from two normal persons and eight autoimmune disease patients, respectively by using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-induced transformation. To re-evaluate the EBV technique for production of human monoclonal antibodies (mAb) related to infectious disease, we screened these oligoclonal LCLs for antibodies against 31 bacterial strains systematically. A total of 74 cultures out of 1380 were reactive to a total of 18 strains out of 31. Among these, eight cultures showed 10^-3 antibody (Ab) titers to Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotypes C, E, F and I, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens and Bacillus cereus. Ten cultures showed 10^-2 Ab titers to Ps. aeruginosa serotypes D, E, F and I, Ps. maltophilia, Staph, epidermidis, Klebsiella ozaenae, Ser. marcescens and B. subtilis. The results reveal the further possibilities for the EBV technique to produce various infectious disease-related human mAbs.     

Immunocytochemical study of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine β-hydroxylase immunoreactivities in the rat pancreas

An immunohistochemical and immunoelectron microscopic study was used to demonstrate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine -hydroxylase (DBH) immunoreactivities in the rat pancreas. Small TH immunoreactive cells were found in close contact with large TH immunonegative ganglion cells among the exocrine glands and were occasionally found in some islets. Some of these TH immunoreactive cells were also DBH immunopositive. The immunoreaction product was seen diffusely in the cytoplasm and in the granule cores of TH immunoreactive cells. All intra-pancreatic ganglion cells were immunoreactive for DBH, but not for TH. The TH immunoreactive cells were identified as small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells due to their localization and morphological characteristics and showed no insulin, glucagon, somatostatin or pancreatic polypeptide immunoreactivities. These results indicate that SIF cells may release dopamine or noradrenaline to adequate stimuli while the intra-pancreatic ganglion cells with only DBH may not synthesize catecholamines in a normal biosynthetic pathway. TH immunoreactive nerve bundles without varicosities and fibers with varicosities, associated or unassociated with blood vessels, were found in both the exocrine and endocrine pancreas. Close apposition of TH immunoreactive nerve fibers to the smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the blood vessels was observed. A close apposition between TH immunoreactive nerve fibers and exocrine acinar cells and islet endocrine cells was sometimes found in the pancreas. The immunoreaction product was seen diffusely in the axoplasm and in the granular vesicles of the immunoreactive nerve fibers. Since no TH immunoreactive ganglion cells were present in the rat pancreas, the present study suggests that noradrenergic nerve fibers in the pancreas may be extrinsic in origin, and may exert an effect on the regulation of blood flow and on the secretory acitivity of the acinar cells, duct cells and endocrine cells.     

Seasonal change in the food habits of the Iriomote catFelis iriomotensis

The food habits of the Iriomote catFelis iriomotensis were studied by analyzing 177 feces collected monthly from 1987 to 1988. A total of 26 food items were identified. The frequency of lizards and frogs in the feces was higher than those of mammals and birds. The food habits changed greatly seasonally.Eumeces skinks were fed on most frequently, and found in the feces with a similar high frequency occurrence in March–April and July–September, while their proportion to the total number of food items was larger in March–April than in July–September. The cats fed on larg-sized skinks, adultEumeces kishinouyei, more in March–April than in other seasons. The number of skinks sighted in the course of a road census was greater from March to August, and large-sized skinks were sighted more in March–April than in July–August. The cats fed selectively on large-sized skinks in every season. Therefore, changes in the food habits depended on the food availability. Characteristics of food habits in the Iriomote cat are discussed in comparison with the food habits of other felids in temperate and tropical regions.